Judge: Rossi can keep ‘GOP’ label

Republican Dino Rossi can keep his label as the “GOP” candidate for governor on the November ballot, a judge ruled Friday.

Democrats had challenged Rossi’s decision to declare his party preference as GOP – a common shorthand for the Republican Party – instead of spelling out the official name.

They argued before King County Superior Court Judge Richard Eadie that Rossi’s usage would confuse voters. Outside of court, they have accused Rossi of trying to dodge the
Republican brand in an election year when its political value has plummeted.

But Eadie said some ambiguity in communication can’t be helped.

“Language is art. Language is changes,” he said. “There’s a certain amount of inevitability of confusion in our use of language.”

Eadie also cited state laws and regulations requiring a candidate to be listed on the general election ballot with the same party affiliation used on the primary ballot. Rossi ran as a GOP candidate in the August primary, and he will meet Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire in November in a rematch of their extraordinarily close 2004 contest.

“I’m influenced, really, by the specter of two different ballots in one election,” the judge said.

Such a circumstance would invite a legal challenge to the outcome of the voting, he said.

After the ruling, the Democrats said they will consider whether to appeal it.